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Badass Bridge

#2
Tonally, zero difference IMHO. Stability, quite a bit more difference. Weight, a lot. A lot of people swear by Badasses but I've never had a problem with a decent Fender bridge. But if I were going to replace a bridge, it wouldn't be with a Badass. It would be with a Hipshot.
 
#3
Not sure about the Hipshots, but the BAII is a direct replacement for the standard Fender bridge and doesn't require any drilling to install. I just recently put one on my Squire VM Jazz and it really made a difference with attack and sustain. I would recommend getting the pre-grooved one, since it requires filing otherwise.
 
#5
i modded an EB0 with a longer neck, new pup and had to move the bridge, so...........
i used a badass to get the string spacing/scale right. i am very happy with the results. it wasn't my first choice but i got a good deal on a used one and they are solid.
 
#6
It DOES make a difference in tone, and it's been proven scientifically. Attack, sustain, and playability are all affected. Weather you'll like the changes is entirely subjective. I find that a bass with a Badass is much clearer and easier to hear in the mix then one without. It de-muddies the tone a good deal.
 
#7
Earwigger said:
It DOES make a difference in tone, and it's been proven scientifically. Attack, sustain, and playability are all affected. Whether you'll like the changes is entirely subjective. I find that a bass with a Badass is much clearer and easier to hear in the mix then one without. It de-muddies the tone a good deal.
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1+
 
#8
Earwigger said:
It DOES make a difference in tone, and it's been proven scientifically. Attack, sustain, and playability are all affected. Weather you'll like the changes is entirely subjective. I find that a bass with a Badass is much clearer and easier to hear in the mix then one without. It de-muddies the tone a good deal.
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Just to be clear, is this a good thing? :D
 
#12
It made my Fender Bullet an entirely new bass, before I fitted a Badass II my ATK was very much louder then it and after it's now got a bit of an edge on the ATK. Unbelievable change to the resonance and general clarity. Definately "de-muddified" it alot.

I'm yet to come across a stock Fender bridge I like the sound of compared to the difference the Badass made to mine, but I haven't played too many really good quality Fenders to judge.
 
#14
nkossnar said:
I just recently bought a brand new Fender American Deluxe Jazz and I am only a little satisfied with the bridge. I was wondering how much of a difference it would make if I slapped a badass bridge on there.
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Lots of split opinions on these. If you're solvent? Buy the BA II. It's a drop on direct replacement, no drilling req. If you feel it works?, you win, if not you haven't modded the bass at all. and can try another, or return to original. For me? I like the sound and stability, and can handle the slight weight increase. I have four BA's I and II's. Also some stock and Schaller bridges on my other basses. The biggest deal with BA's was that you had to slot the bridge saddles, but now they offer them pre slotted, you kids got it easy! Heh!
 
#15
RED5 said:
Lots of split opinions on these. If you're solvent? Buy the BA II. It's a drop on direct replacement, no drilling req. If you feel it works?, you win, if not you haven't modded the bass at all. and can try another, or return to original. For me? I like the sound and stability, and can handle the slight weight increase. I have four BA's I and II's. Also some stock and Schaller bridges on my other basses. The biggest deal with BA's was that you had to slot the bridge saddles, but now they offer them pre slotted, you kids got it easy! Heh!
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Actually he needs a BAIII for that particular bass.
 
#16
What you want is The Claw.

FenderBsbdg1.jpg


I have one. I don't know the weight but I wouldn't be surprised if it was 3 or 4 lbs of solid brass.
 
#17
i put one on the bass i play in school... it does really help the tone... a lot clearer and i think nicer.

im not sure if its a mistake or not, but i didnt cut grooves in it... havent had any problems with it so far, and i do a lot of bending

and i have a steinberger bridge im waiting to slap on my beast, but i need to replace either all the saddles or at least all the screws in them
 
#18
I just put a BAII on my Ash bodied Jazz tonight. I have one on my Geddy Clone.

I cannot tell what difference it will make to the sound yet as the bass is still in pieces....

But I do like the effect on my other bass. think it does change the attack, the sustain and the clarity of the sound. Using the Rotosound strings on the Geddy did the most to change the tone however.

I will be putting a Gotoh 201 on my SX P bass soon as well.

The issue with the stock, Fender style bridge, IMHO, is the way things can move about. I like that with the BA bridges there are much more solid adjustments one can make. One can also file the darned thing to alter the string spacing if one wants to. I suppose you could do the same with a stock Fender style....

I have never had an issue with any high mass bridge, but have with the stock Fender style on one of my SX basses...
 
#19
JimmyM said:
Just to be clear, is this a good thing? :D
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:) Scientifically, yes. :) To be fair, when I put Badasses on my basses, there was a bit of low-low-mid cut and a little of the bass volume went down, but the clarity for the lower registers as well as the string tension (for some reason) were both improved.

Also, slides up and down the neck on a fretted neck maintained the energy of the initial attack on the string better and sounded much clearer.
 

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